أيوه
aywaSaudi, everyday
In everyday Saudi speech أيوه (aywa) is "yes", and the short إي (ī) is common too. نعم (naʿam) is the polite standard form. It is also called أبشر (abshir).
Meaning: affirmative answer (adverb)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| أيوه | aywa | Saudi, everyday |
| إي | ī | Saudi, casual |
| أبشر | abshir | Saudi, willing agreement |
| نعم | naʿam | standard, polite |
أبشر (abshir) goes beyond a plain yes. It means "consider it done", said when you agree to a request.
Which one should you use?
أيوه (aywa) is also used in Egypt and the Levant, so إي (ī) and أبشر (abshir) sound more specifically Gulf.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
نعم (naʿam) is the answer for a boss or elder, and it also means "pardon?" when you did not hear someone. Friends use أيوه (aywa) or إي (ī).
Did you know?
- أبشر (abshir) literally means "receive good news" and is used in the Gulf as a promise that a task will be done.
Examples in context
- أيوه، أنا جاهزaywa, anā jāhizYes, I am ready.
- أبشر، بسوي لك اللي تبيabshir, bsawwī lak illī tibbīYes, I will do what you want.
- نعم يا أستاذnaʿam yā ustādhYes, sir.
Example conversation
Majed asks his colleague Saad to join a meeting in a Riyadh office.
- Majedتجي معي الاجتماع؟tijī maʿī al-ijtimāʿWill you come with me to the meeting?
- Saadأيوه، أبشرaywa, abshirYes, with pleasure.
- Majedالله يعطيك العافيةAllāh yaʿṭīk al-ʿāfyaThank you.
